Author

by Megan Granholm

Introduction

Rain is almost constant during the winter in the Pacific Northwest, and though most people who live here refuse to use an umbrella on a daily basis, there are times we have no choice. Last Christmas Eve was one of those times on Vancouver Island, BC: my husband and I were visiting Butchart Gardens’ light displays in the middle of a storm that knocked power out to 10,000 people on the other side of the island. After we had our walk in the pouring rain, we stopped in the café for some hot chocolate; as we waited in line to order I watched my umbrella leak all over the floor. I had terrible visions of people walking by and slipping on the water and breaking their tailbones or something. So these Tunisian crochet umbrella covers were borne on the way home that night.

These brolly covers (brolly is Aussie slang for umbrella) are perfect to take with you on your commute, and when you’re finished you can slip your umbrella inside and the cotton will absorb the drips. Perfect for spring showers!

Finished Size

Cover A fits compact, folding umbrellas that are 11” long when closed.

Cover B fits golf umbrellas that are 37” long when closed.

Gauge

8 Tss / 6 rows = 1.5 inches

Notes

Measure your umbrella before beginning. You may wish to add or omit a few rows to the top of the cover so it will fit your umbrella better.

If your golf umbrella has a very pointy end, you may want to cut a circle of felt from an old felting swatch (recycle!) or crochet a second circle to attach to the inside bottom of the tube so the pointy end of the umbrella can't poke through.

Always change color on a forward pass for this project. You can let the unused color run behind your work, or for spaces where you will carry the yarn for more than an inch or two, make a few small balls of yarn for each color and use them instead.

On a return pass that uses more than one color, the second loop from the end of your hook is the color you want to pull through the two loops.

To increase at the beginning of a forward pass, insert your hook between the first and second stitches and draw up a loop,insert your hook in the second stitch as usual and draw up a loop. Continue as normal. To increase at the end of a forward pass, insert your hook between the second-to-last and last stitches and draw up a loop, insert your hook in the last stitch as usual and draw up a loop. Continue as normal.

The Pattern

Cover A: Compact Umbrella

With yellow cotton and regular hook, work 6 sc into magic loop and pull loop closed.

Round 1: Work 2 sc in each sc around, sl st in first sc to join round. (12 sts)

Round 2: *Work 2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc,* rep from * to * around, sl st in first sc to join round. (18 sts)

Round 3: Work 2 sc in first sc, sc in each of next 2 sc,* rep from * to * around, sl st in first sc to join round. (24 sts)

Round 4: Work 2 sc in first sc, sc in each of next 3 sc,* rep from * to * around, sl st in first sc to join round. (30 sts)

Round 5: Work 2 sc in first sc, sc in each of next 4 sc,* rep from * to * around, sl st in first sc to join round. (36 sts)

Round 6: Work 2 sc in first st, sc in each of next 2 sts, work 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts, *work 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 5 sts,* rep from * to * around, sl st in first sc to join round. (43 sts)

Do not fasten off.

With Tunisian hook, ch 43.

Tss in each ch across, following Compact Umbrella Chart (click thumbnail for larger version) for color changes. Work even according to chart.

Finishing

With pink cotton and regular hook, work 2 rows of sc across top edge of work, inserting hook between vertical bars of Tunisian stitches when working first row. This will keep the edge from curling. Sew circle to bottom edge of Tunisian rectangle and sew edges of rectangle together into a tube.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

If your compact umbrella has a wrist strap, you may choose to omit the shoulder strap (see below).

Cover B: Golf Umbrella

With red cotton and regular hook, work 6 sc into magic loop and pull loop closed.

Round 1: Work 2 sc in each sc around, sl st in first sc to join round. (12 sts)

Round 2: Work 2 sc in first st, work 2 sc in next st, *sc in next st, work 2 sc in next st,* rep from * to * around, sl st in first sc to join round. (19 sts)

Round 3: Work 2 sc into first st, sc into each of next 3 sts, *work 2 sc into next st, sc into each of next 2 sts,* rep from * to * around, sl st in first sc to join round. (25 sts)

Do not fasten off.

With Tunisian hook, ch 25.

Tss in each ch across, following Golf Umbrella Chart (click thumbnail for larger version) for color changes. Work even according to chart.

Finishing

With red cotton and regular hook, work 2 rows of sc across top edge of work, inserting hook between vertical bars of Tunisian stitches when working first row. This will keep the edge from curling.

Sew circle to bottom edge of Tunisian rectangle and sew edges of rectangle together into a tube.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Shoulder Strap (optional)

With regular hook and blue (pink) yarn, ch 11, leaving a 6” tail.

Row 1: Starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across. (10 sts)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across.

Repeat Row 2 until your strap is the length you like. (When the strap is about 3/4 of the length of the bag, pin the strap to the bag and try it on, with the umbrella in it. The strap will stretch quite a bit.)

Fasten off, leaving a 6” tail.

Finishing

Sew the bottom edge of the strap (the foundation chain end) to the bottom edge of the tube, and the top edge of the strap to the top edge of Tunisian stitches, positioning the strap across the seam of the tube.